House Committee on Rules Chair Bowman opened a public hearing March 20 on House Bill 3,687, a one‑page measure that would require a simple majority vote to adopt, amend, revise or repeal a county charter and to adopt, amend, revise, repeal or surrender a city charter.

Representative Willie Choatsen, House District 46, told the committee the bill "codifies what is happening in almost every single city across Oregon" and aims to ensure "our local government stays responsive to its people" by aligning the vote standard for city charter changes with the majority threshold explicitly stated for counties and metropolitan service districts in the Oregon Constitution (Article VI, Section 10).

The bill drew immediate questions about its scope. Derek Singston, policy director and counsel for Oregon Business and Industry (OBI), testified in opposition, saying the bill "would unnecessarily insert the state into issues of local government" and could prevent local jurisdictions from requiring supermajority votes for tax measures. "By prohibiting local governments from requiring supermajority votes for tax increases, House Bill 3,687 would significantly diminish local control over local tax policy," Singston said, and he urged the committee to reject the bill "as drafted."

Helen Lee, staff attorney with the Office of Legislative Counsel, told the committee she would prepare a research memo for Members on whether and how the bill would apply to revenue measures, saying she had not briefed this specific question for the hearing. Lee also noted that the Oregon Constitution contains home‑rule provisions and that whether the Legislature may enact substantive law on matters of local concern is a question for committee consideration and potential future research.

Representative Choatsen and members discussed hypothetical scenarios in which a city could lock in a higher threshold for future charter changes, potentially preventing future majorities from altering charter provisions. Choatsen said the bill is not targeted at any single city and noted Representative Edwards of Vernonia is a co‑chief sponsor. He characterized the measure as "content neutral" and intended to preemptively align city practice with county standards rather than to address an active crisis.

Committee members asked whether revenue votes typically appear as charter amendments and whether any Oregon city currently uses a supermajority threshold for tax measures; witnesses said they were not aware of such examples but that further research was needed. OBI cited Tax Foundation figures during its remarks, arguing Oregon's business tax competitiveness has declined and warning the measure could worsen the state’s tax burden if it barred local supermajority requirements for taxes.

The committee closed the public hearing on HB 3,687 after taking testimony and moved on to other business. No committee vote on HB 3,687 was recorded in the transcript.